Self-starter for internal-combustion engines.



C. A. PLACE.

SELF STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1913.

1,137,788. Patented 2134,1915.

% Swvw/m CHARLES A. PLACE, or NEWMAN, ILLINOIS.

SELFT'STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed April 23,1913. Serial No. 763,006.

To all whom it may concern: I i e Be it known that I, GrrARLns A. PLAon, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Newman, in the county of Douglas and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting devices for internalcombustion engines, and particularly to that type in which compressed air is used by being introduced into the cylinders when the exhaust and intake valve of the engine are closed, whereby to move the piston under the expansive actionof the air.

It is an important object of the invention to enable the manufacture of the device in an inexpensive manner, and in a way whereby the device may be used upon any type of automobile of usual construction.

It is of course a purpose to enable the device to be made in small size.

It is a further purpose to simplify the mounting of valves .controlling the distribution of the compressed air to the'respective cylinders at the proper time, with regard to the position of the valves of the engine in the respective cylinders.

Itis a most valuable attainment of the invention that the distributing housing and mounting for the several moving parts are 7 adapted'to be formed integrally and by the use of simple machine operations involving only three operations of a gang drill.

Additional objects and advantages will appear, some of which are apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which, p

Figure 1, is a sideview of the device attached to an engine ofordinaryconstruction, Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view in the major plane of the device. Fig.3, is a vertical sectional view at right angles thereto. Fig. 4, is a detail of a modification. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve mounting.

There is shown a portion of an automobile equipped with an engine 10 of ordinary construction having four cylinders A, B, C, and D respectively, the engine being equipped with my invention as designated at 11. The device is adapted to be mounted either on the dashboard 12, or on the forward end of the crank case, or other situations, which will be understood by those versed in the art. As illustrated,

it is simply secured to the side of the forward cylinder, on the side opposite the valves. The extremely small size of the device adapts it to be mounted without interference with other elements of the en gine or vehicle.

The invention comprises a body casting 12 of rectangular form, the actual size as at present used in practice being one-anda-half inches in thickness and having a height and length of 5 inches each.

A large horizontal bore 14 is formed adjacent the top of the casing, extending throughout its length, and a similar bore 16 is formed parallel therewith adjacent the lower side of the casing. For convenience,

each of these extends entirely through the casting, the upper one being closed at the right hand end by a plug 17 as is the right hand end of the upper bore 14. The left hand end of the latter is fitted with a suitable plug 18 adapted for air supply connections, of any. suitable form. Each end of the bore 16 is fitted with a bearing plug 19, supported by which is the cam shaft 20. It will be noted that the lower horizontal bore 16 is considerably greater in diameter than the other mentioned.

Four equally spaced vertical bores are formed through the casing, having a small- I est diameter at their lower parts and ex-' tending slightly above the bore 16, having also intermediate slightly enlarged portions 22, stopping a little short of the lower side of the bore 14, and having a larger portion extending through the top of the casings. r This method of forming the passage has specific advantages which will be brought out hereinafter. The large upper ends 24 of each vertical passage is closed by a plug 25, bearing upwardly. against which there is 7 small central teat 28 on its upper side for maintaining the spring properly centered thereon, the upper end of the spring being held within the large part of the bore, the plug stopping short of the lower part of the bore for that purpose. The valves are provided with stems fitting snugly in the lower reduced parts of the bores stopping within a short distance of the lower horizontal bore.

Small push rods 29 are engaged in the lower part of the vertical bores, each projecting into the lower passage 16 for engagement of the cam portion 80 of the shaft 20,

' a small helical spring 26 seated on'the upper side of a mush-room valve 27 having a located in registry with respective push rods,

The push rods 29 may have heads von their lower ends, if desired, although this will not be essential, In the event that heads are formed thereon, it will be necessary to form a an access opening through the casting at o Jnections whereby connections may be made with respective-cylinders of the engine as shown, The cams 30 are adjusted to cor respond in relative position to oneset of those of the cam shaft of the ordinary engine 10, which is not diflicult, in view of x the fact thata standard is followed in such manufacture, and this will result, with proper connections in operation of the valves in'similar order to the working strokes of the engine under rotation of the shaft 20, which shaft projects from one end of the casing andis provided with a sprocket 33, as illustrated. Around this sprocket there is engaged. a chain 34: extended to the sprocket35 on the crank shaft of the engine, the teeth of the latter numbering two to one onthe sprocketr35. v p

The device is adjusted to the engine by turning the engine until the piston of the i front cylinder is at the beginning of the working stroke, and my invention is then connected with the front valve thereof just opening, so that when the engine is to be started, and air is admitted through the air supply pipe 37 to the passage 14, the air will be conducted to that cylinder of the whereby it, will be 'started. 7

By the use ofsuitable bits it will be ap-v engine in condition for the working stroke,

, parentthat the vertical passages including the enlargements andfthe reduced portions slightly below'the passage 14, I am able to form Valve seats: with great facility.

It: will be apparent that the' operation,

may be formed "in one operation, and by manufacture assemblageofthe invention are simple, and the starter is adapted V to be, repaired or have parts renewed without difliculty, It willbe apparent that the device may be mounted upon the dash board ifdesired'and operated by means of worm connections with the main shaft 'substan *tially' as shown in dotted lines, or any other usual mechanical construction, found more convenient'than those illustratedn When it is desiredto start the engine, it is only necessary to admit air to the passage 14 by meansof a suitable valve40 disposed in the pipe, air being supplied'from a suitable reservoir located at a suitable point,

supplied with compressed air in any suitable well known manner;

What is claimed is:

A device of the class described, comprising a casting having'a plurality of vertical bores therethroughincluding a lower reduced part, a slightly enlarged intermediate part, and an upper enlarged portion,valve seats formed at the outer terminals of each intermediate portion, air ducts in, communication with the intermediate portions, a transverse bore being formed in the casing intersecting the outer enlarged portions of the bores, means for supplying air thereto, a'large transverse bore intersecting the rereduced bores of the said housing, a camshaft mounted therein revolubly, operative connections for the cam shaft, valves upon saidseats, having stems engagedin the reduced portions of the bores, projecting into the last named transverse bore for engage-o ment by respective camportions of said shaft, springs for seating the valves and plugs closing the upper ends of all of the vertical bores, and the end of the first named transverse bore opposite the said air supply means.- I 1 In testimony whereof 'I' havehereunto set my hand in presence, of two subscribing, witnesses. I I

t Y "CHARLES A.VPLACE. 1

Witnessesm ,7 I

CHAR ES FARMER, JOHN W.- GREEN.

7 Copies of this pat'ent may be obtained for live cents each, by ad'dressingtl e- Commissioner of Patents,

' i Washington, D. G, v- 

